Bag closure



Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES BAG CLOSURE Louis M. Grimes and Ralph W. Amann, Lamont, Ill.

Application Uctobcr 5, 195%, Serial No. 188,627

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to bag closures and more particularly to a snap type closure suitable for a sealing bag of thin transparent plastic or the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel closure for bags of transparent plastic which is quick and easy to apply, which has a positive locking action preventing accidental disengagement and yet is easily removable with fingertip pressure. It is another object to provide a closure which is inexpensive, which can be used over and over again, and which cannot injure the bag on which it is used.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a closure constructed in accordance with the present invention in the open condition.

Fig. 2 is a general view showing the closure of Fig. 1 applied to the neck of a bag.

Fig. 3 shows the manner in which the closure is applied.

Fig. 4 shows the appearance of the closure when locked in the closed position.

Fig. 5 shows the manner in which the closure may be opened by pressure on the catch portion.

Fig. 6 shows an alternate method of releasin the closure by applying squeezing pressure to the loop portion.

Referring now to Figure 1 it will be seen that the closure indicated generally at It is in the general shape of a keyhole when said closure is in its closed position. It is formed of a fiat strip of spring metal such as stainless steel to provide a loop portion I I with a first leg I2 and a second leg I3 on the respective sides of the loop. At the end of the first leg I2 is a transversely bent end portion I which terminates in a hook or catch I5, preferably formed by bending the very tip of the metal strip back upon itself so that said hook or catch I5 is directed inwardly toward the loop portion II. The hook thus presents an inclined outer surface We which serves to cam the engaged leg into position. If desired, the tip of leg I3 may be bent outwardly to a slight degree as indicated at l3a (see Fig. 1) for the purpose of causing more positive locking between the engaged ends.

The closure is pre-sprung so that it tends upon folds of the neck of the bag and to facilitate packing them into the loop portion II. Because of the easy entry afforded the neck of the bag, very little care need be exercised in applying the closure and the possibility of tearing or other damage during assembly is substantially eliminated. The closure is therefore well suited to automatic or machineapplication. If desired, the operation of applying the closure to the neck of the ba may be facilitated by twisting the neck once or twice in order to gather the folds into a ropelike section of relatively small diameter.

After the folds have been gathered into the loop I i, the closure may then be closed merely by applying inward squeezing pressure to the legs l2, l3 as indicated in Fig. 3. With the closure in the resulting locked condition, it is apparent that the neck of the bag is closed as firmly as though tied with several loops of cord. Since the outwardly presented surfaces of the closure when locked are all either flat or smoothly curved, there is no danger that the closure .will be caught on a passing object and opened inadvertently. 1

It is to be particularly noted that when closing pressure is applied the folds of bag material gathered in the loop I I are confined and inwardly squeezed with a rather powerful pressure due to the leverage inherent'in the construction and without any tendency for the folds to escape from the loop. This fact, combined with the resilient, rubber-like nature of flexible plastic film, results in a seal which is substantially water and air-tight. The closure construction thus lends itself not only to refrigerator bags and other bags for household purposes where water and air-tightness is desirable but also permits the use of the closure for retail distribution of any commodity where it is necessary to preserve freshness and cleanliness on the shelf until the goods have been purchased by the customer. Cereals and fresh vegetables may be mentioned by way of example.

The closure combined with a transparent bag as a sales promotion feature not only enables the contents to be in full view and freely inspected by the customer but also provides the customer with a bag and closure as a premium which may be repeatedly used for other purposes long after the original goods have been consumed.

One of the primary features of the present invention is the quick and easy manner in which the closure may be released prior to removal from the bag. One manner of release is shown in Fig. 5 and consists merely in applying pressure to the hook or catch l5 with an outward sliding movement of the finger or thumb. This moves the hook in an inwise direction until it clears the engaged leg l3 whereupon the opposed legs spring apart to free the neck of the bag. This can be efiected without straining the closure since the outward pressure on the hook is taken up by the inward bowing ofthe leg 12 to which it is fastened. Pre ferably the grip or overlap of the hook issufiiciently shallow so that a light pressure is adequate for release.

Another manner of release is disclosed in Fig. 6. Here to release the closure, squeezing pressure is applied to the loop ll not transversely but at an angle. The resulting deformation O1 fi2;ttn-. ing of the loop causes endwise inward movement of the leg 13 and withdrawal of the leg from the hook If). "This manner of release is particularly convenient where the closure is constructed of spring metal which is sufiiciently 'resilient so as to enablegthe loop tobe deformed by the thumb and forefinger of one ,hand without, however, impartingto it. a permanent set.

The closure is.-.distinguished by itspimplicity and cheapnesswBecause it may be conveniently madeofstainless spring steel or the like it may be usedoverand over again and is much less eigpe'nsive to use...than strings, rubber bands or other closure expedientswhich have been-used in; the past. single size. sufficesfor a .large range of bag sizes, onetcommercial embodiment of the closure, havingfa loop approximately oneiourth ofan-inch in. diameter and legs five-sixteenths of-an inchwlong, being readily employed on bags from four inches to fourteen inches in width) While the'preferred form of closure has been described as being. of. keyholev shape whensaid closure- 15 its closedrpo'sition for purposes of simplicity-and easy understanding, it will be unciers'tood that thistterinias used., in the claim is not to be construed strictly but would also include constructions inhlwhi'ch the vvtwo ,legs are spacedmore -'clos'ely together, and in fact touch when the device is closedeand constructionsin whichtheloopl-is not symmetrically arranged with respectto'thelegs.

We claim a's our invention: a jAs -an article of manu'facture, av bag closure consisting of a flat strip of 'metal formed in key- 4 hole shape when in closed position, said closure comprising an outwardly sprung loop portion and two legs extending outwardly therefrom, said legs being of a fiat smoothly continuous leaf spring nature throughout their length, the first leg having a transversely bent portion at the free end thereof for completing the keyhole configuration when said closure is in its closed position, said first leg terminating in an integral hook directed inwardly toward said loop portion, said hook overlapping the free end of the second leg to prevent the legs from springing apart and to form a relatively smooth continuation of the outer surface of said second leg when said closureisin vits closed position, the loop portion of the closure being substantially complete when the closure is in its closed position for the entrapment of the gathered neck of the bag closure, said loopport o bein remade. M9 u i e t h Sprinsmetalan 33 M1 8??? 9. T pe m f "sa hookwith respect to theiree end of the second leg being sumciently small so as to enable the second leg toube freed {rem the hock by squeezirig the loop portion, with fingertip pressure in a direction to cause endwise retraction of the second leg from engagement: of the end thereof from beneath said hook to permit said closure to spring to open position. LOUI an E5- 'RAI |PH AMANN.

H REFERENCES eaten (The iollowingireferences are of record in the file of this :patent: 

